Yesterday a unique AMRAAM firing trial was conducted at Moron Air base in Southern Spain. The trial was the result of close cooperation between the Spanish and British Flight Test Centres of EADS CASA and BAE Systems, under guidance of Eurofighter GmbH, using Eurofighter Typhoons IPA4 and IPA5 - Spanish and British aircraft respectively.

The objective of the testing was to fire the AMRAAM missile from a Eurofighter Typhoon whilst its radar was in passive mode and thus “invisible” for Electronic Support Measures (ESM) Systems. The necessary target data for the missile was acquired by the radar of a second Eurofighter Typhoon and transmitted using the Multi Functional Information Distribution System (MIDS). Both aircraft were separated by quite a distance in range.

This scenario is especially relevant for Eurofighter Typhoon’s Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air combat capability against high level threats, including Low Observable aircraft.

Spain’s IPA4 led the trial as the “firer”, while IPA5 as the “cooperator” illuminated the target with its radar active. This trial is the first known testing of its kind and is the first missile firing that Spain has participated in as part of the Eurofighter Typhoon programme, building on their previous flight test work which includes Meteor environmental testing and air-to-ground weapon trials.

The complex test was meticulously planned over several months and involved a large team of experts from across all partner nations as well as the US, who provided support for the exercise. The trial took place at a closed range in Southern Spain using a Mirach drone.

IPA5, the supporting British aircraft flew over from Warton in Lancashire on Thursday 12th March to assist in the trials and recorded a flight of two hours and four minutes non-stop, covering over 1000 miles to reach Moron air base on only two external fuel tanks and without Air Refuelling. IPA4 will now begin an 11 month Lay-up in order to bring the aircraft up to Tranche 2 functionality.

Does Tejas have the capability to give mid updates to BVR misiles. What about capabilities of Astra?

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For all we know, HAL might add up such options sooner or in the later versions of Tejas since those versions will be "much more superior" to the current version of Tejas. As far as what is spoken within the media, public and even in HAL, I am to believe that Tejas will be equipped with Astra BVRAAM alongside the Sukhois, MiG-29s and Mirages.

For all we know, HAL might add up such options sooner or in the later versions of Tejas since those versions will be "much more superior" to the current version of Tejas. As far as what is spoken within the media, public and even in HAL, I am to believe that Tejas will be equipped with Astra BVRAAM alongside the Sukhois, MiG-29s and Mirages.

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Tejas is just a waste of time,its too small to face any real fighter jet of PAF .

No body is talking about F-18 super hornet,in my view it is the real fighter between all MRCA contenders,others all are either underdevelopment or incomplete platforms,SH is complete with all the multirole capabilities,tested in real war.Why we are thinking about others and not for real champion. By Vikram Sandhu.